Contractible ring having a detachable shank



Feb. 20, 1962 G. M. COATES 3,021,697

CONTRACTIBLE RING HAVING A DETACHABLE SHANK Filed Aug. 12, 1960 IN V ENTOR.

United States Patent 3,021,697 CONTRACTIBLE RING HAVING A DETACHABLESHANK Gordon M. Coates, 774 3rd Ave., Troy, N.Y. Filed Aug. 12, 1960,S81. No. 49,324 2 Claims. (Cl. 63-15.45)

This invention relates to an expansible ring, and more particularly to afinger ring of this character.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an expansiblering which will fit on the finger by expanding to fit over the knuckleor largest part of the finger, and then contracting to fit properly andcomfortably on that portion of the finger where a ring is commonly worn.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a ringwhich, after contraction will fit snugly on the finger, and will notswing or rotate to allow the stone or other ornamentation to revert tothe palm-side of the hand, as loose fitting rings are apt to do, with aresultant possibility of damage to the stones or decorations.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such anexpansible ring, which, by virtue of its expansibility will minimize thepresent conventional practice of sizing rings, since a single ring willbe readily adaptable to a variety of finger sizes, and which will alsosubstantially eliminate the necessity for ring guards which have atendency to wear grooves in a ring.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a ring of thischaracter wherein the head or setting of the ring may be of any desiredsize of design to accommodate any desired stone or other decoration.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anexpansible ring which will be sturdy and durable in construction,reliable and elficient in operation, and relatively simply andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as thedescription of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of ex pansible ringconstructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FlGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantiallythrough the center line of the head of the ring showing its expansionconnection with the shank;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in a the direction indicated by thearrows; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded end elevational view of the shank and certainelements adapted to connect the shank to the head of the ring.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings, more particularly to FIGURE 1, anexpansible ring constructed in accordance with the instant invention isgenerally indicated at and includes a head or mounting socket 11. Thehead may be of any desired size, and any desired conventionalconfiguration and is adapted for the reception of a diamond 12 or othersuitable stone or decorative material. Obviously, if desired, the headmay be made of solid and of precious or semi-precious metal, or in anyother configuration normally employed in the making of an ornamentalfinger ring. The opposite sides of the socket are provided withlaterally extending bosses or lugs 13, which are provided with apertures14, which are adapted to engage the ends 15 of oppositely disposed coilsprings 16. Springs 16 are seated in the sockets 17,

3,@Z1,fi97 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 which are formed in the opposite endsof a split shank portion 18, which is adapted to extend around thefinger. The opposite ends 19 of the springs may be secured in thebottoms of bore 17 and in any desired manner, as by means of jewelersscrews 20 or the like.

Each end of shank 18 is provided with a lug or boss 21, the purpose ofwhich will be more fully described hereinafter.

In order to render the ring more symmetrical in appearance the ends ofthe shanks are adapted to be covered. The covering means take the formof lower sleeve portions 21, each of which is provided with upwardlyextending side flanges 22, in which are positioned detent members 23. Apair of prongs 24 extend from the ends of each member 21, and areadapted to be inserted through slots 25 suitably aligned on oppositesides of the head 11, the ends of the prongs 24 being suitably bent overas indicated at 2-6 to retain the lower sleeve members 21 in relatedassembly with the undersides of the ends of shank 18.

Oppositely disposed complementary upper sleeve portions 28 are provided,each of which ha a depending side flange 29 on either side thereofprovided with an interiorly positioned raised boss 30, the arrangementbeing such that when the upper sleeve half portions are position overthe flanges of the complementary lower sleeves, the bosses 30 willengage in the detents 23 to hold the parts against disassembly. Theinner end 31 of each upper sleeve portion 28 is adapted to seat snuglyagainst the adjacent side of the head 11, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and2. The outer end of each member 28 includes a depending flange portion32, the arrangement being such that in the event a spring 16 shouldbreak, or become otherwise disengaged from its retaining means, the lug21 will engage the flange 32 to prevent disengagement of the shank, andconsequent possible loss of the ring.

If desired, the lugs 13 and their associated openings 14 may besupplanted by suitable small hooks soldered or otherwise suitablysecured to the exterior of the head 11 for engaging the ends 15 ofspring 16. Similarly, other securing means than the iewelers screw 20may be employed for holding the opposite ends of springs 16 in the bores17.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved expansible ring construction which accomplishes all of theobjects of this invention, and others, including many advantages ofgreat practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An expansible ring comprising a head, apertured lugs on opposedsidewalls thereof and a pair of openings on each of said walls adjacentthe bottom thereof, a split shank curved from end to end having asubstantially straight bore opening from an end face at each end, a coilspring in each bore, a jewelers screw securing one end of each spring inits associated bore, a hook formed on the other end of each spring andengaging in the aperture in a respective one of said lugs, a sleevesurrounding each end of said shank, each sleeve having an inner endabutting one of said walls, and hooked fingers on said inner end securedin a respective pair of said openings.

2. An expansible ring comprising a head, apertured lugs on opposedsidewalls thereof and a pair of openings on each of said walls adjacentthe bottom thereof, a split shank curved from end to end having asubstantially straight bore opening from an end face at each end, a coilspring in each bore, a jewelers screw securing one end of each spring inits associated bore, a hook formed on the other end of each spring andengaging in the aperture in a respective one of said lugs, a sleevesurrounding each end 05 said shank, each sleeve having an inner endabutting one of said Walls, and hooked fingers on said inner end securedin a respective pair of said openings, each end of said shank having anupstanding boss thereon and each sleeve having a depending flangeReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,541,764 Harrison June 9, 1925 1,641,575 Cibor Sept. 6, 1927 2,457,275Ritter Dec. 28, 1948 2,517,011 Meyers Aug. 1, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS208,611 Germany June 13, 1908 361,985 Germany Oct. 20, 1922 279,516Italy Nov. 14, 1930

